Taiwan presses case for US arms after Trump says he's undecided on new sales

Taiwan has renewed its public case for continued American arms support after President Donald Trump signaled uncertainty over authorizing another major weapons package. Speaking in Taipei, Deputy Foreign Minister Chen Ming-chi said US arms transfers are grounded in the Taiwan Relations Act and remain a critical pillar of deterrence in the region. The remarks came after Trump’s Beijing summit with Xi Jinping, where his comments raised fresh questions about the pace and scope of Washington’s backing for the island. Taipei is trying to steady the message at a time of mounting military and political pressure from China, which claims Taiwan as its territory and has not ruled out force. Taiwanese officials also stressed that the island’s future must be decided democratically by its 23 million people. The issue is made more urgent by continued Chinese military activity around Taiwan and by delays in Taipei’s own defence spending plans, which have been slowed by domestic political resistance.